It only takes one look at this post (and, well, this post, this post, and this post) to know that the topic of energy efficient bulbs—like compact fluorescents and LEDs—versus standard incandescent bulbs is a hot and bothered one. (No one is conserving energy in voicing their opinions, that's for sure.) But with the recent House vote to withhold funding to enforce part of a 2007 law aimed at significantly increasing light bulb energy efficiency, the war between those looking forward and those holding onto the past is on. And we're stepping into the fray—through the flurry of media misinformation on what the laws and standards actually are, past the throngs of incandescent light bulb hoarders— and walking right into the Apartment Therapy Test Lab...
What We're Doing
The biggest gripe people have about energy efficient bulbs is that they can't get them to give off the same look and light of an incandescent. That may have been the case as little as two years ago, but the most recent crop of energy efficient bulbs are a whole new breed, and we believe they run neck-and-neck with incandescents. Thus, for the next ten weeks we'll be testing and rating 18 bulbs—6 compact fluorescents, 6 LEDs, and 6 halogen incandescents— to help you find an energy-efficient bulb that gives the exact look and feel you want.
Why We're Doing It
We want to encourage readers not to be afraid of energy-efficient lightbulbs! They can still be totally design-ey and mood altering; they're just not sucking up as much energy.
We also want to set the record straight and help readers a) understand the issues around the lightbulb wars, b) know what information is true and what's false.
For example: are you an incandescent lightbulb hoarder? "Everytime I go to Costco I buy more [incandescent] wattage," said decorator Bunny Williams to The New York Times a few weeks ago. Bryan Batt (known as Sal Romano on Mad Men) urges his readers in his new book to forgo the wine and bring a case of incandescent light bulbs as a hostess gift instead. Sue Larkin of Tulsa, Oklahoma told USA Today that she's "stocked up on enough incandescent bulbs to last for the next 50 years."
The ironic part of all this? Incandescent light bulbs are not being banned! People only think they are! The reality is that in 2007 the U.S. Congress adopted energy efficiency standards for new screw-based light bulbs. The standards mandate that beginning in 2012 the standard incandescent bulb (the same one developed by Thomas Edison 125 years ago, mind you) will be phased out in favor of more energy-efficient bulbs including... wait for it... incandescent bulbs.
Yes, that's right. Incandescent bulbs aren't leaving altogether; they just need to use at least 25-30% less energy, which means they need to be designed better. And who are we to fight against better design?
Coming up... Next week we'll have give a rundown on the current and coming laws and standards, the resistance efforts to roll back those standards, and a Q&A on myths and facts about energy efficient bulbs.
(Image: Gregory Han)
Apartment Therapy's Sofa Shopping Guide
Nikki’s Sweet and Cheery Print Studio
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Stanley Console by ...
5 Things Paris Taught Me About Travel
Recipe: Ham, Cheddar & Chive Egg Bakes
I have CFLs in my kitchen (mini-spots in warm), and love how crisp the light is, without being sterile. Once Reveal started producing CFLs with their signature hue, I did the rest of the lights.
What criteria are you using to rate these, and how are the lights different? [ie. if the only difference between the six lights in each category is temperature, this experiment is not going to be very useful or informative]
Besides the mercury issue, what I don't like about the coil style fluorescent bulbs is that they don't fit in most of my glass dome style ceiling fixtures. They are always too big & the glass globes won't fit over them (especially all my ceiling fan/light fixtures). Also, most of my lamp shades have the wire clamp that fits over the incandescent bulbs. They won't stay on the coil bulbs! I haven't seen where this is addresses. If they are going to make the new energy saving bulds why can't they just make them in the "traditional" bulb shape & size so that people won't be forced to change all their fixtures & shades?
"...where this is addresses..."- meant to type "addressed".
@ecuadoriana1 I had the same issue until I found GE's CFL bulbs where the spiral is inside a normal-looking bulb. I have replaced all of my lightbulbs when they burn out (except my in bathroom) with the 15w, which are suppose to replace 60w and are the Warm Soft Light 2700k. The last time I bought them there were different wattages/light temp in the same style. Hopefully these will fit in your lamps/ceiling fan!
Oh, one other thing, these don't work on anything with a dimmer - I don't know if other CFL's work on a dimmer.
For the record, there are dim-able CFLs, you just have to search for them.
@embryoconcepts Thanks for the info! I will look for these the next time I need replacements.
yay! THANK YOU for doing this!
I'd love to use greener light bulbs in my table lamps, but there do not appear to be tri-light versions that are small enough to fit inside the harp of the shades. This, of course, is in addition to finding them in the right colour temperature. I'm looking forward to your findings.
Bravo! I'm so excited for this series!
Also: "Incandescent bulbs aren't leaving altogether; they just need to use at least 25-30% less energy, which means they need to be designed better. And who are we to fight against better design?"
Exactly! Sometimes, good design comes out of constraints. I see no reason why that rule shouldn't apply here as well.
My experience with "dimmable" fluorescent bulbs is that they have a very limited range and short life-span.
@ Stucker- Thanks for the tip! Never seen them before but will now keep an eye out for them!
This is why I question CFL's and hold on to my old bulbs. Hopefully technology has improved, but I still have reservations -- especially since my husband is a first responder that is entering burning buildings that are potentially full of toxic hazards from bursting light bulbs.
I'm going to get kicked out of California for this